“This is your day,” Mayor Neil Johnson said to the gathering at the Bonney Lake Senior Center on Thursday. “We are proclaiming today as National Senior Citizens Day in Bonney Lake.

National Senior Citizens day began in 1988 when former President Ronald Reagan made an official proclamation for the observational holiday. “We owe older citizens our thanks and a heartfelt salute,” Johnson said, quoting Reagan’s speech. “We can best demonstrate our gratitude and esteem by making sure that our communities are good places in which to mature and grow older.”

The Bonney Lake Senior Center offers entertainment and social opportunities for senior citizens, as well as host educational classes about Medicare and free health screenings.

“I think its wonderful that there is a day when seniors are recognized for their contribution to society as a whole,” said Sue Hilberg, senior services manager. “They have a value that you can’t measure, and they need to be recognized for their value.”

The Senior Center is hosting a Luau on Sept. 18 and an Oktoberfest celebration on Oct. 3.

Download the center’s newsletter from their website, www.ci.bonney-lake.wa.us/section_community/community_resources/senior_center.shtml, for more information.